20 Families In Ashwood Apts Fire Still Without Homes

WEST CHESTER, PA — Exactly nine weeks ago, the Ashwood Apartments burned down, displacing 45 families, and today 20 families remain in search of new homes, and the county is still housing half of those 20 families in hotels.

Chester County’s Department of Community Development provided an update today on the progress of the 45 families displaced from their apartments by the devastating fire at Ashwood Apartments July 30 in North Coventry Township.

"Twenty of the families that lived in the apartments still need to find a new home, with ten of these families continuing to be in hotels," said Pat Bokovitz, Director of the Chester County Department of Community Development.

"The County has been providing hotel stays for the impacted families since the beginning, to the amount of $50,000, in order that no household finds themselves homeless due to this tragedy," Bokovitz added.

The needs for those families are very specific. Kelly Raggazino, Executive Director of Open Hearth, Inc., said one family needs a three bedroom home – preferably in the Owen J. Roberts School District. She said there are also needs for a few one-bedroom units that are handicapped accessible – preferably first floor apartments.

Phoenixville-based Open Hearth, Inc. is one of the community organizations working with the County to support the needs of every family that lost its home to the fire.

Chester County is asking landlords with properties to rent in the Pottstown tri-county area to contact the Housing Authority of Chester County via e-mail at ashwoodapartments@haccnet.org or via phone at 610-235-4484.

"Not surprising, the community has been tremendous in their response. In fact, through community donations, we are able to provide each family impacted by the fire with $2,000 to assist them in the transition into their new homes," said Holly Parker, Executive Director of TCN.

Monetary donations to support the families have been collected by Pottstown-based community support non-profit Tri County Community Network (TCN).

The Community Warehouse Project of Chester County has been providing furniture to the impacted families and will continue to do so. Details of the how to make furniture donations can be found at http://communitywarehouseproject.com/donate/ or by calling 484-473-4360.

Chester County government acknowledges the great work being done by many community organizations, who continue to provide on-going case management services to the impacted families. Among those helping are Branch Life Church, Open Hearth Inc., Orion Communities, Friends Association, Handicrafters, Home of the Sparrow, Housing Authority of Chester County, North Star and Salvation Army of Pottstown, the county said.